STEM OPT Research Technician Jobs
Research Technician roles sit squarely within STEM OPT eligibility, supporting up to 24 months of additional work authorization beyond your initial OPT period. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before you start. A STEM degree in a qualifying field, life sciences, engineering, chemistry, or a related discipline, is required to extend.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Samuel Lab at the Baylor College of Medicine is seeking a highly motivated research technician to support experimental studies on host–microbiome interactions in the context of spaceflight. Research will use C. elegans as a model system to investigate how microgravity and the spaceflight environment alter microbial colonization, host physiology, and gene expression, contributing to post-flight analyses from NASA ISS missions (CBIOMES).
PROJECT
Post-flight analyses of NASA microbiome impacts on spaceflight hosts. In collaboration with NASA and space biology partners, this project characterizes how microgravity reshapes host–microbiome interactions using C. elegans flown on ISS missions and post-flight omics datasets. Findings inform astronaut health and broader questions about environmental stress, gut physiology, and microbial resilience.
Responsibilities
- Prepare and conduct laboratory experiments on host–microbiome interactions using C. elegans
- Perform bacterial colonization assays and microbiome profiling
- Collect, compile, and analyze experimental data
- Maintain precise and thorough documentation of experimental results
- Assist with sample preparation and processing for post-flight NASA mission analyses
- Order and manage laboratory supplies and equipment
- Enter data into research databases and assist in preparation of lab reports
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in biology, microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, or a closely related field, or equivalent education and work experience
- 1+ years of laboratory research experience
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- C. elegans or other model organism genetics
- Microbiology, molecular biology, or cell biology laboratory skills
- Experience with microbiome profiling or gnotobiotic culture systems
- Familiarity with omics data collection or basic bioinformatics
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
INTRODUCTION
The Samuel Lab at the Baylor College of Medicine is seeking a highly motivated research technician to support experimental studies on host–microbiome interactions in the context of spaceflight. Research will use C. elegans as a model system to investigate how microgravity and the spaceflight environment alter microbial colonization, host physiology, and gene expression, contributing to post-flight analyses from NASA ISS missions (CBIOMES).
PROJECT
Post-flight analyses of NASA microbiome impacts on spaceflight hosts. In collaboration with NASA and space biology partners, this project characterizes how microgravity reshapes host–microbiome interactions using C. elegans flown on ISS missions and post-flight omics datasets. Findings inform astronaut health and broader questions about environmental stress, gut physiology, and microbial resilience.
Responsibilities
- Prepare and conduct laboratory experiments on host–microbiome interactions using C. elegans
- Perform bacterial colonization assays and microbiome profiling
- Collect, compile, and analyze experimental data
- Maintain precise and thorough documentation of experimental results
- Assist with sample preparation and processing for post-flight NASA mission analyses
- Order and manage laboratory supplies and equipment
- Enter data into research databases and assist in preparation of lab reports
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in biology, microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, or a closely related field, or equivalent education and work experience
- 1+ years of laboratory research experience
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- C. elegans or other model organism genetics
- Microbiology, molecular biology, or cell biology laboratory skills
- Experience with microbiome profiling or gnotobiotic culture systems
- Familiarity with omics data collection or basic bioinformatics
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
See all 397+ STEM OPT Research Technician Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new STEM OPT Research Technician Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Research Technician
Verify your CIP code before applying
Your STEM OPT extension depends on your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code matching a STEM-designated field. Check your DSO's records against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List before submitting Form I-983 to avoid a denial based on an ineligible degree.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Research institutions, universities, and private labs vary widely in E-Verify enrollment status. Ask the HR contact for their E-Verify Company ID or search the E-Verify employer search tool directly, your STEM OPT authorization is invalid if your employer isn't enrolled before your start date.
Target labs with active federal research funding
Federal contractors and grant recipients, NIH, NSF, and DOE-funded labs, are typically already enrolled in E-Verify as a condition of their funding. Research Technician postings tied to federal grants are a reliable filter for finding compliant employers without having to ask upfront.
Use Migrate Mate to filter Research Technician roles by sponsorship history
Search Research Technician listings on Migrate Mate, which surfaces employers based on their DOL Labor Condition Application filing history, so you can prioritize labs and research organizations that have already supported work-authorized employees in similar roles.
Build your I-983 training plan around lab-specific tasks
USCIS requires your I-983 to describe how your daily Research Technician duties apply your STEM degree's coursework and methodology. Generic descriptions get flagged, document specific techniques, instruments, and analytical methods your role uses and tie each one to a concrete learning objective.
Time your application around 90-day filing windows
Your DSO must recommend the STEM OPT extension no earlier than 90 days before your initial OPT end date. Missing this window forces a gap in authorization. Coordinate with your DSO and HR to align your offer letter date, training plan approval, and I-765 filing well before that deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Research Technician role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as biology, chemistry, engineering, or computer science, and the Research Technician role directly applies that training. The connection must be documented in your I-983 training plan. Roles in basic lab support without a clear link to your degree field may face scrutiny from USCIS during review.
How do I confirm my Research Technician employer is enrolled in E-Verify?
Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before your STEM OPT start date, not just willing to enroll. You can verify enrollment through the E-Verify employer search tool using the organization's name or E-Verify Company ID. If they aren't enrolled, your extension approval won't authorize you to work there, regardless of your I-765 status.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Research Technician?
The I-983 must describe your specific learning objectives, the lab techniques and analytical methods you'll use, how those connect to your STEM degree curriculum, and how your employer will supervise and evaluate your progress. Generic job descriptions aren't sufficient, USCIS expects the plan to demonstrate a direct educational relationship between your degree and your daily research duties.
Does cap-gap protection apply while my STEM OPT extension is pending?
Cap-gap applies specifically to students who have an H-1B visa petition filed on their behalf for the upcoming fiscal year. If your employer files an H-1B petition before your OPT EAD expires, cap-gap extends your work authorization through September 30. STEM OPT itself doesn't provide cap-gap, that protection is tied to the pending H-1B, not the extension application.
Where can I find Research Technician jobs where the employer is already set up for STEM OPT?
Migrate Mate lists Research Technician roles filtered for employers with documented sponsorship history, so you're not spending time on organizations that have never supported work-authorized employees. This is especially useful in academic and biotech hiring, where E-Verify enrollment and prior OPT experience varies significantly from one lab or department to the next.